A/N: I hope you enjoy it, this one took far more work editing and changing the dialogue until I was happy with it. It's also quite a bit longer, but I couldn't find a breaking point I was happy with.
As usual, if you have time, leaving a comment behind is appreciated.
Edit: I made some small corrections, a few random words that had been misplaced, one or two sentences that could have been improved, were. If anyone else spots anything, feel free to PM me.
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In the afternoon the bus arrives at Youkai Academy without incident, all the while a nervous Tsukune is doing what he can to avoid being fought over by the girls. Moka keeps her distance which saddens him, but he knows it's for the best; after all her coming close is the number one reason for the other girls to act out. Ugh, telling them was going to be painful, he really did not want to hurt his friends in any way, much less hurt them this much. But try as he might, he can't come up with a solution.
Once at the academy, everyone says their goodbyes and heads to their dorms to unpack and rest from the trip, but Tsukune just dumps his stuff inside his room and goes off to try to find Moka – who had the same idea. They run into each other and stop while just staring at each other.
"Moka-san...", he starts with a smile.
"Tsukune...", she returns the smile.
"Moka..-san", he says more dreamily, as he approaches her.
"Tsu-ku-ne", she replies playfully, also closing the distance.
He embraces her, and she leans her head against his shoulder. "Don't tell me you're hungry again?" he asks in a light teasing tone.
She blushes, but instead of answering she asks, "and why are you here?"
"I was feeling hungry!" he replies lightheartedly. She pauses, looks at him, and then both start chuckling. "I'm being honest!" he adds with amusement.
He takes her face in his hands, and gently caresses her with his thumbs. "I really was starving.." he says in a soft voice, as he leans forward and touches her lips in a tender kiss, before leaning his head on her shoulders and pulling her close. "..for Moka-san's touch."
Truth be told, Moka was actually feeling a little hungry, or perhaps it was that she was excited at the prospect to go find him. She always had that issue, whenever she felt too excited she also craved his blood. But more than anything she wanted to be held in his arms; she got goosebumps during the entire ride back each time she remembered waking up in them.
She leans her own head on his shoulders, presses her lips against his neck, but doesn't drink, just rests her face against him.
Caressing the back of her head and playing with her hair, he tells her, "Go ahead and take a little sip, I know you want to." She sighs, she had been found out, but smiles warmly at how considerate he is. She really only takes a sip and kisses the spot afterwards, eliciting a shiver and tightening of his hug.
"We have to be careful," she says with a sad tone, since she still wants to explore his reactions to her touch. He nods in silent agreement.
"What we need, is to go away on vacation", he suddenly says. It does sound like a good idea, just the two of them together, but when she realizes the double meaning at having just returned from one, she bursts out laughing, with Tsukune joining in.
"You seem a bit more confident, and definitely more playful." she teases him. "Did something happen you want to talk about?"
"Just the usual, fight for our lives, kissing pretty vampires, not getting horribly killed by inner Moka-san.." he replies with a slow grin.
"Oh my god, I still can't believe you said that to her. And lived! I couldn't even say anything there to help you, I was too shocked myself!"
"Believe me, I was shocked too. I could totally see my tombstone reading 'Here lies a fool who had a dream he shouldn't have' or something. Funny what panic will make you do.", he smiles.
They share a few more chuckles, but she wants to ask him if he also had any dreams of her, yet the faint noise of a branch cracking in the distance startles her. Realizing they may be pushing their luck, and that they really do need to be discreet for now, she tells him they should probably get back. She whispers in his ear, "I think I heard something.", before she lets go of him.
Understanding, he also pulls back and closes his eyes, trying to sense a presence. Inner Moka's training pays off, for he can sense someone in the distance. Not very close, and very faint, but it's somewhere. He nods to her, "Yeah, I'll see you tomorrow OK? Sleep tight!" he waves.
She makes it a point to reply a bit loudly, "Thanks for the meal Tsukune, goodnight!" before heading off to her dorm.
A pair of blue eyes watch her head to her dorm in silence.
XXX
The next morning Moka wakes up feeling particularly cheerful. She can't stop thinking about Tsukune, and their latest kiss, and the warm embrace. Even though the kiss had been so brief, the embrace had been wonderful, and it filled her with joy. She was practically prancing in her own dorm while she was getting ready.
"Someone's happy this morning.", says Ura, waking up herself surrounded by the warm feelings of outer Moka. She's glad to see Omote happy, but inner Moka is still somewhat troubled about the other day.
"I am! He kissed me again last night!", chirps Omote.
Inner Moka sighs, "I really need to have a talk with 'that boy' again, I never agreed to let him go around kissing my lips anytime it pleases him. I originally accepted his proposal for that one kiss he had already taken, never mind the second one, or this one for that matter!"
"That's not what it sounded to me! You agreed to all his blood in exchange for letting him kiss you!"
"That one time. I didn't agree to be kissed whenever the wind blew.", comes the pointed reply from her inner self.
"Did too! Besides, you liked it when he kissed you!"
"I was just surprised. Besides, it was probably more your feelings and hormones flooding my body.", a flustered inner Moka tries to reason.
"Nu-uh! I was there, you like Tsukune too! Admit it!"
"I will do no such thing!" replies Ura indignantly.
"Ura-chan likes Tsukune, Ura-chan likes Tsukune", answers outer Moka in a childlike sing-song. 'Maybe I can tease Ura-chan into accepting her emotions. Besides, this is fun!', she reasons with herself.
Ura-Moka growls in annoyance, "I'm warning you, don't think you're that far out of reach. And I will have that talk with Tsukune!"
"You're just jealous because he kissed me twice!"
"Hah, I don't think so. Besides, it was me he dreamt of, remember?", refutes inner Moka, trying to end the argument and repay her other self for her teasing.
That stops outer Moka in her tracks. Not being able to come up with a counter, she does the only thing she can think of. She resumes her mocking childish sing-song.
"The hell? I said I don't like him!" - but Ura's angry reply is completely ignored.
"Ura likes Tsukune, Ura likes Tsukune!", more singing.
"OK, that is IT!", growls inner Moka in anger. "Since as you remember he gave me the right to all his blood, YOU are cut off! No more drinking from Tsukune!"
At this outer Moka's eyes grow wide in sudden fear and she falls silent, before she begins to apologize, "I'm sorry! I promise to never do it again!" - No answer.
"I'm very sorry! Look I'll do anything!" - still no answer.
"Please please please!" - yet more desperate begging.
She finally gets acknowledged as inner Moka replies, "You promise to never sing that damn annoying song?"
"Yes, honest. But you also have to promise to not cut me off his blood, that's just mean. I was only playing..", she sniffs, acting all dejected.
"Fine. But stop annoying me and get ready.", replies inner Moka, and watches with some satisfaction as her outer self falls silent and hurries up.
XXX
Still feeling overall cheerful, outer Moka goes off to meet Tsukune. The moment she sees him, she gets a blush as she greets him, "Good morning Tsukune."
"G..Good morning Moka-san!" He's also blushing.
She begins to play with her hair nervously.'If only the others might not run into us at any moment.." she thinks with longing. Still, she notices that suddenly Tsukune is trying to avoid looking at her directly, so she asks him what's wrong.
"Ah, it's nothing, I was just remembering our time together during our last night at the Inn..." he replies, before adding quietly, "..and I dreamt about it."
"Eh? You dreamt about me?" She asks with obvious surprise, sounding very pleased.
"Well, yes.. after all, it was the best day of my life." He finally says with obvious embarrassment.
She beams at him. He smiles at her, happy she's happy. They begin to walk to school together, and he only barely resists the urge to hold her hand.
'Speaking of that day, don't forget to remind him that I wish to speak to him later on, so ask him to arrive at training a few minutes earlier.', inner Moka cuts in.
"Ah, Tsukune..", begins outer Moka chirpily, "Ura-chan wants me to tell you she misses you and really wants to see you during training later today, so she wants you to arrive a bit early so you can talk."
Ura growls in indignant annoyance, 'That is not what I said!'
"It is what you meant though!", outer Moka whispers back. She then hums the tune to her earlier "Ura likes Tsukune" 'master piece', but without the 'lyrics', to keep her promise.
As inner Moka begins to fume, Omote whispers to her, "Aw, come on, look at how happy he looked when I told him you missed him!"
Looking at Tsukune's radiant face does take the edge of her annoyance, and Ura decides to stay silent.
Tsukune is thrilled that inner Moka misses him, although he does wonder at outer Moka's current humming. Still, he likes it when she's this happy, so he doesn't question it further. His thoughts drift between memories of the two of them, but they are rudely interrupted when an odd young man crosses their path. His attire is very strange, medieval even, as is his manner of speech. Words are exchanged with the unusual young man, and after thinking he had issued a marriage proposal for Tsukune to join 'his family', both him and Moka make a hasty retreat to the safety of their classroom.
XXX
"You finally attracted even a boy. It's pretty impressive being able to go so far, Tsukune. But if you keep being unfaithful like this, I'll have to stab you.", threatens Mizore, extending her ice claws while Kurumu wails about how having an affair with a woman was bad enough. This leaves Tsukune feeling very afraid of how the girls will react to his having chosen Moka, since it's clear that in their minds they are the ones already in a relationship with him.
It is not until Kokoa decides to interfere by explaining that the boy was the heir of a famous Chinese mafia, the 'Won' family, that the misunderstanding gets cleared: Fong-Fong wanted Tsukune to join his mafia family, not marry him. The next obvious question of course is why this fellow would want to recruit Tsukune, and he appears in person to deliver the answer: Tsukune had gotten famous in the underworld when he single-handedly beat up the Yakuza gang that kidnapped Moka, and he was getting credit for the lot of them defeating the leader of Fairy Tail's local subdivision in that area. Worse, it was being claimed that he destroyed the entire subdivision, much to almost everyone's confusion.
The only person who knew something about it, Gin, decided to stay silent, so Fong-Fong carried on, restating his mission to find strong people, and inviting Tsukune to join his family. The girls all jump at him and tell him to forget about it, and to get out. Surprised, he demands to know the one thing Tsukune wishes he hadn't asked. "Why are you in my way? What is your relationship with Tsukune?!"
"We're his friends!", says Moka in an attempt to diffuse the situation.
"His lover.", states Kurumu, throwing a challenging glance at usually shy Moka.
"His wife..", deadpans Mizore, trumping Kurumu.
"Concubine.", goes Yukari, catching on to the game.
"Toy.", finishes Ruby, voicing her own desires.
The girls had clearly used the chance to 'confess' to Tsukune their desires, but he was quite distressed. "Don't go around saying anything you please like that!", he says, before he yelps, "wait, what the hell do you mean with toy?!"
The little display impresses the young mafia heir, who thinks it's quite formidable for someone in high school to already have everything from concubines to toys, and reinforces his belief that Tsukune is the man he's looking for. With this new development, he also thinks he finally has something to entice Tsukune with: The mafia would take care of all his women, and it wouldn't matter how many wives or lovers he had, they would all be well cared for and want for nothing, solving his problems for the future.
For his part, Tsukune exclaims that he doesn't want something like that, and shivers at the thought of inner Moka even hearing about it, but nobody listens to any of his protestations. In fact, the girls seem quite enamoured with the idea, and begin discussing it. In the meantime, Fong-Fong decides to challenge him to a duel, the stakes being if he looses, he has to join the mafia. Tsukune never agrees, but that doesn't seem to deter the young heir, who summons a large monster to go after him.
Tsukune gets thrown off the window, and the boy chases after him. Only Moka and Yukari appear interested in wanting to go help him, everyone else is busy discussing the polygamy arrangement. Moka and Yukari split up to try to find Tsukune, and it is Yukari who finds Tsukune first. It is with Yukari's help that he escapes the troublesome youth, but then gets an earful from the young witch, who apparently can look very terrifying when she's really mad. Unlike the other girls, she knows Tsukune won't pick her, she's certain he'll pick Moka. Therefore she thinks the polygamy idea is the perfect solution, for her and the other girls. Tsukune considers telling her the truth, that he has already picked, but thinks better of it. She's not mature enough to keep it to herself, and in her current emotional state might attack him as much as the other girls. Yukari begins to drag Tsukune back to the mafia boy by force, but they stop when they see him and Moka running towards them in a hurry.
Glancing up, Tsukune sees huge bouts of flame in the shape of a bird, and apparently, it's chasing after Moka and Fong-Fong. They barely have time to toss a quick explanation: It is a phoenix, a failed summon from Fong-Fong, and it is now after everyone, but specially after Tsukune. Apparently the phoenix is one of the strongest creatures there are, and so the three young students make a run for it.
The phoenix makes a dive for them, trying to crush them, and Tsukune realizes they won't be able to run in time, so he turns to face the creature, and disregarding his own safety orders Fong-Fong to take care of Moka and Yukari before charging the Phoenix. The impact is brutal, and triggers a small explosion, sending bits of debris and dust all over. When the dust settles, Tsukune can be seen holding back the giant bird's mighty beak with his arms – he had apparently caught it's dive and thus prevented the attack from reaching his friends.
Fong-Fong is as shocked as he's impressed, and convinced beyond any doubt that Tsukune is the person he needs for his organization. But Moka turns around and runs towards Tsukune, eyes glistening with worry, to try to help him. She grabs onto the phoenix's beak to help Tsukune. In a heartfelt confession, she tells Tsukune about how she also doesn't want him to join the mafia, because she doesn't want Tsukune involved with polygamy. The little witch looks furious, and the young heir looks distressed, but watching this display of raw power, they remain silent. For his part, Tsukune makes a double-take, this was clearly not the right time to be discussing that.
As if the phoenix had heard him, it yells in anger at being ignored and launches another ferocious attack. Feeling himself slipping, and fearing for Moka's safety, he manages to release her seal just in time. Her Youki flares wildly, and pushes away the flames, keeping them safe, as inner Moka awakens. Tsukune looks relieved that he released the seal in time, and offers Moka a warm smile as welcome.
She returns the smile, but adds, "We have to talk Tsukune. And frankly, I'm a little disappointed. You should be able to defeat an opponent of this level without me lending you my strength."
"I'm sorry Moka-san. If you want, I'll try now, and you can watch how I perform, I just wanted to make sure Moka-san was safe first.", he offers as apology.
She begins to nod her agreement when the phoenix mocks her, "So this is a 'mighty' true vampire? Pitiful. Are you planning on defeating an immortal phoenix like myself with such pathetic Youki? I will scorch you down to your bones!"
The phoenix attacks with a barrage of fire that blankets the earth, but Moka easily jumps over it. She energetically replies, "Amusing, that is my line! A little phoenix who has only just grown is nothing but a blundering novice. You're ten years too early to try to challenge the likes of me. Learn your place!" Her reply is punctuated by a seriously powerful kick that smashes the giant bird against the ground, hard. The only thing left when the dust settles is a delirious phoenix who apologizes and promises to go away before passing out.
Fong-Fong recovers from his surprise, and exclaims his amazement at the phoenix being defeated with a single kick. Tsukune tries to use this as an example of how there really are many people more powerful than him, and why the young heir should look elsewhere for strong people. Instead, in a fantastic display of faulty logic, he assumes that Tsukune must be stronger still, to have someone like inner Moka 'work for him'. He expands on his deductions, reaching the conclusion in his mind that Moka must be Tsukune's wife if she's with him, and the idea of that invincible partnership gets him even more excited. He's more eager than ever to have him join the mafia, while Moka looks on in mild annoyance.
Suddenly, the girls arrive all dressed up in sexy traditional Chinese clothing, chanting about polygamy and telling Tsukune to go ahead and join the mafia. Tsukune objects but it gets lost in a powerful yell from inner Moka.
"Don't get so cocky! You should be ashamed being so slutty! What polygamy, Tsukune claiming women as if he were ordering takeout?" Her gaze grows fierce as she stares at him, "Tsukune, I definitely won't allow it!"
He tries to protest his innocence but the girls seem enamoured with the idea, and Kurumu even challenges her back, "Who Tsukune chooses has nothing to do with you inner Moka!"
Tsukune is frozen in place. 'Kurumu, shut up!' he manages to think.
Unaware of certain recent events, Kurumu carelessly carries on, "Or could it be that you're jealous, hm?" She assumes a mocking pleading pose as she carries on, "Are you going to start saying something ridiculous like 'Oh Tsukune, pick me, I'm the only one who can be your wife!', inner Moka? Ahahahha!"
Tsukune is horrified. Kurumu starts laughing her ass off at her own joke, picturing the stoic inner Moka making forlorn declarations of love about Tsukune. But when she glances up and she sees a blushing, seriously pissed off vampire, the laughter dies in her throat. A few seconds later, there is a pile of very bruised girls who now know better. Tsukune barely escapes her anger because she needs to talk to him, so she forcefully motions him to follow her for their evening training.
XXX
"I'm really sorry Moka-san, I kept telling them over and over that I didn't want anything to do with that polygamy..", he starts, as soon as they enter the training area known as 'paradise'.
She nods, but that's not what she wants to discuss with him, although she's happy she doesn't have to beat him up too. She wonders how to begin, but before she does, he approaches her.
"I am very happy to see you, though. I was looking forward to this all day", he says softening his tone.
She smiles, but she's troubled. This was not going to be easy, so she hesitates. "Tsukune.."
"Yes, Moka-san?", he asks, oblivious to what is coming.
"I need to talk to you." He turns to listen to her with curiosity, so she just nods and continues, "The truth is, I.."
Inner Moka is rudely interrupted by her outer self's inner wail, 'You are not about to do that! You care about him! Please stop!'
She actually does stop momentarily. She shakes her head, trying to clear her mind. She thinks about her pride and concludes that she has to tell him, she feels she owes him that much. "The thing is, I don't know how I feel about us, Tsukune." She states calmly. Turning to look at him she sees the incredible hurt in his eyes, so she adds quietly. "I hope you won't hate me for it."
"..I see." He turns his face to look away so she doesn't see the moisture forming in his eyes, and swallows hard. All the joy before is instantly drained from him. He wants to say more, but he can't. He feels if he speaks his emotions will overwhelm him. He only shakes his head as a reply.
'What is wrong with you!?', sobs outer Moka from inside the Rosario.
One thing is certain, Ura is now feeling miserable. She thought she would feel relieved at confessing her doubts, that it would be out in the open, but the relief had not come, quite the opposite. Even someone who has issues identifying and dealing with their emotions can tell this much.
Maintaining a stoic expression, she walks up to him and places a hand on his shoulder. She really doesn't know what else to do. She considered just walking away, for it could minimize the hurt, but the moment she had started outer Moka had challenged her, 'So first make a mess and then run away, is that it?' Her pride wounded at the notion she would run away from a problem, she has little choice but to stay and try to do something.
He finally starts talking, reacting to her hand on his shoulder. Doing his best to keep his emotions at bay, and out of his voice, he speaks quietly, "I could never hate Moka-san. I once said that even if I were to die, no matter what I would still be Moka-san's friend. Now I will also add that no matter what, I will always love Moka-san."
She's touched at his latest confession, she expected him to at least be angry, and at worst to not want to talk to her and just look for solace her other self. She remembers how sincere he had been back then, and how he had kept his word no matter what. She smiles at this thought, but she is still unsure what to do next, so she gently turns him around to see his face.
His eyes glistening with unshed tears and a deep hurt startle her. His earlier warmth and happiness when he had seen her had evaporated just like that. No, she had taken it just like that, she chided herself. Instead she sees his hurt and an attempt at a brave face that couldn't begin to mask the flood of emotions, and she's surprised at how much it affects her. She has an almost irresistible urge to protect him, to take away the hurt, but she doesn't know what to do, or what she should have done instead. Surely having such doubts and just keeping them to herself was not doing him any long term favours, but now she was not so sure she had made the right choice.
Her own feelings of regret make it easier to determine what to do, once she acknowledges them, but her pride is in the way. Admitting to a weakness, a mistake, or an inability to do something with ease is not something she would consciously want to do. It is only the growing lump in her throat that finally motivates her to say something at all, "Look Tsukune.. I have feelings for you. But I need time to..figure out exactly what I feel. I didn't want to hurt you. Out of respect for you, I thought you deserved to know."
He tries to speak with a calm voice, willing it not to break, but isn't completely successful, "It's OK Moka-san. It's more than a guy like me deserves anyway, and more than I originally expected. I was always afraid inner Moka-san would never accept me, perhaps that's why it took me so long to finally accept my feelings." After a pause, he adds, "Besides, I really do deserve this, I realize this now."
Inner Moka is upset and lets out a growl before going on an inner rant, 'This is exactly the problem! At least one of the problems anyway. He looks down on himself, he has no pride, no will, no fire. How does he expect to be worthy of standing next to a proud vampire and be her lover, never mind her mate? He's so much more than he gives himself credit for. For crying out loud, how can I be sure how I feel about him when he's so.. so.. spiritless about himself.'
'Yes, because clearly we have made it so very easy for him to gain confidence and feel worthy and equal to us.', offers Omote sarcastically.
Still grumbling, Ura replies to him, "This is part of the problem Tsukune. You have many qualities, but you lack self-confidence, and pride. Show me you deserve to stand by my side, that you have the will to overcome anything.." Tsukune only stares at her with mouth agape.
"You have shown me the courage in your heart, and the purity of your heart, and they are second to none. You have shown compassion and understanding, even to your enemies, thrown yourself in front of fireballs, risked life and limb for friends, and most dangerously of all — you kissed me.", she adds with a small smile, and gets a chuckle in return before she finishes her diatribe, "Now you will need to show me the rest."
Getting him to chuckle breaks the tension. His hurt visibly lessens, and eases her own sadness, while she gives him time to assimilate what she has said.
After pausing for a while to think, just staring off into the distance, he slowly turns to look at her directly before asking, "Moka-san, I was wondering.."
"Yes Tsukune..?" she asks curiously.
"If.. if I manage to borrow the Belmont, would you.. would you like to go back to the Mononoke Arcade with me? Or anywhere else, really?", he asks quietly, trying to sound composed instead of timid.
At this she chuckles softly, "Are you asking me on a date, Tsukune?"
He laughs nervously before rubbing the back of his head, "Yes, I.. guess I am."
"Usually, one firsts asks the girl out, and then kisses her, you know.." she playfully mocks him.
He begins to blush furiously, and she grins for a moment, thinking it payback for her own embarrassment these past few days. However, after a small pause relishing on it, she replies with a warm voice, "Sure, I'd love to."
Moka thinks he has a snowball's chance in hell of getting the whip, but she wants to see him smile, and that does the trick. He looks happier, and she feels the better for it.
Not wanting to push things further, Ura suggests they just skip combat training today. Instead they perform an exhaustive workout and practice his fighting stances. After a long while working out stress, they decide to call it a night.
The mood is subdued, partially from exhaustion, and partially from the uncertainty of the future. As they turn to leave, she decides to call out to him, "Hey Tsukune!" He stops and turns to look at her questioningly, before she adds, "Have sweet dreams, OK?"
He replies calmly, "Only when you're in them.", before giving her a quick smile and walking off, leaving an amused vampire shaking her head.
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A/N: Chapter 5 Coming soon! Please look forward to it, and I'll see you then!